Hundreds run to support Boston (video)

By
Keldy Ortiz
April 17, 2013 at 9:04 p.m.Updated April 17, 2013 at 11:18 p.m.

Jason Hayden finishes Wednesday's run at Riverside Park honoring those that were injured or killed in Monday's bombing at the Boston Marathon. He ran the course while holding the American flag. Runners wore blue and yellow and many carried flags of various sizes as they ran.

After losing his father, Jason Hayden decided he needed to improve his health. So he started running.

He would have stopped running, but he realized that it was good for him.

On Wednesday, in the drizzle, he came out to run for a different cause: to honor those injured or killed in the Boston Marathon bombings Monday.

"There are ones that are injured that can't run," said Hayden, 39, who ran while holding a large U.S. flag.

Wednesday's run by Victoria Area Road Runners Association was not just a regular event, as people gathered at Riverside Park to run in memory of those injured and killed on Monday in Boston.

The run was part of a national event going on in other parts of the U.S. Three were killed and scores were injured on Monday near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, where two bombs were detonated.

Hayden started and finished the event with his family.

"We do it as a family," said Kari Hayden, 39, who is Hayden's wife. "You always feel good."

Event organizer Missy Janzow estimated that 150 to 200 people came out to run.

"Some people are newbies, but this is a pretty big group," she said. "It's a testament to the human spirit. I've had people come up to me that are not even runners to show their appreciation."

Among the group was John Klemczyk, who runs regularly around Victoria.

"Monday is not going to affect our lives. We're still going to go out and run," he said. "If we stop doing the things we love to do, then the people who did the act Monday will win. We're here to tell them they will not win."

The New York native, who has lived here for a while, didn't think he would be running in marathons when he started making it part of his routine.

"When I started running, I would not go to the next mark, but I realize a marathon was the next challenge," said Klemczyk, 47, who has participated in a the Houston and San Antonio marathons. "It's a great stress reliever, and you forget what's going on."

Klemczyk said he missed qualifying for this year's marathon in Boston but hopes to make it next year.

Lydia Ybarra has been running for 20 years to avoid heart problems. She said she comes to running meets at the park on Wednesdays and Saturdays, but wanted to make sure, like others, that her presence was felt.

"We're here to honor Boston runners," said Ybarra. "It's kind of hard that a sad, terrible event can happen."